The Electrifying Maurice de Mauriac L1 Red Lightning

Maurice de Mauriac is a family-run watch business based in Zurich. Founded by the late Daniel Dreifuss in 1997, it is now in the hands of his three children. With four basic collections and a section dedicated to collaborations, the brand has a strong affinity for 1980s styling and does not shy away from colour. The latest model belongs to the L1 Collection, a range marked by the minimalist contemporary style of prize-winning industrial designer Fabian Schwaerzler. In time for Christmas or nights out at the disco, the L1 Red Lightning catches the festive mood with a bold, red-tinted crystal covering the dial.

According to the brand, a request by Swiss musician and singer Crimer – with his marked nostalgia for 1980s pop music – was behind this edition of the L1 with a red sapphire crystal. Although it marks a first for the L1, Maurice de Mauriac has experimented with red-tinted glass before with the L2 Red Sea inspired by freediver Zoe Moore.

The compact 39mm diameter stainless steel case has an abrasion and scratch-resistant black DLC coating, finished off with brushed surface finishings. Water-resistant to 100 metres, the case has a knurled, industrial vibe, easy-to-grip crown and an exhibition caseback to view the La Joux-Perret automatic movement.

The highlight of this L1 is the striking red sapphire crystal protecting the dial, giving the watch a distinct 1980s vibe. Still minimalist, the dial features a series of baton hour makers alternating thicker rectangles with thinner and longer rectangular indices at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock; the hour marker at 3 o’clock is truncated to accommodate the date window with its lightning bolt symbol. The minutes track, with its clean and easy-to-read markers, has longer markers at 5-minute intervals. Although the press release does not mention the luminosity factor, we assume that, like other L1 models, the hands and indices are treated with Super-LumiNova.

Visible on the reverse side is a La Joux-Perret G100 automatic movement, a powerful alternative to the ETA2824 with an increased power reserve of 68 hours. The central rotor, which oscillates on ball bearings, is blackened and decorated with Côtes de Genève, matching the mainplate.

Availabilty & Price

The Maurice de Mauriac L1 Red Lightning comes with a Milanese steel bracelet with a black DLC coating and an additional white rubber strap. It is a limited edition of 80 pieces, available in the brand’s Zurich atelier or online and retails for CHF 3,990 (incl. taxes). For more information, please visit mdm-watches.com.